Germany has promised one million euro for the renovation of the Memorial Museum at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp, says Berlin’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Steinmeier claimed that the financial aid is in response to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s appeal to members of the European Union for support the former Nazi death camp which requires millions of euros worth of maintenance.
On Monday, Steinmeier’s Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski, told the EU that the Auschwitz foundation needs 120 million euro on essential renovations on the 200 hectare camp.
Steinmeier stated that the money will come from some extra funds from the 2008 budget. He also appealed to German businesses and relevant private foundations for additional funds.
To date, the Memorial Museum at Auschwitz-Birkenau has been funded mainly by the Polish government or through its own fundraising initiatives. Foreign financial aid in 2008 made up only five percent of the museum’s budget. (mmj)